Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-23
THURSDAY. JUNE %, 1887.

Why Do Negroes Prefer the SouthE
TIE intcrrogatory propOunded in the
above caption is one that demands an
answer at the hands Of the northern pco-
ple-cspeclally from the Republican edi-
tors and orators who pretend TO sympa-.
thize 50 deeply with the negroes, and are
so ready 70 charge that these are the VIC
tins OF innumerable wrongs. Let the
answer be what II will, the negroes prove
iucontestably by their acts that they would
rather live in the South than in the North.
We have repeatedly called to this fact the
attention OF the Cincinnati COmmerc'dl'
Gdsetfe; but that paper never took any
notice OF our articles, until few days
ago. when it referred TO our question as
follows:
"But the point the Richmond paper
makes continually against lis IL that the
black people are much better treated In the
South than in the North. and that the proof
81 IT is 10 be found in the fact that they do
not migrate. We have not heretofore cared
to notice TO any serious extent this puerlle
assertion, but remark that the worst form
OF the ill.treatment TO which colored people
are subjected in the South is not personal,
but political. True, the frightful masSacres
that Redeemed southern States few years
ago have ceased, because the colored clti-
zens submit without further bloodshed TO
be denied their rights under the C0nstitu'
ton Of the United states. But the DISPOSE
ton Of the COlOred people to migrate has
several times been very strong. There was
a rush from Mississippi 20 Kansas few
wears ago, and tens OF thousands OF cOlored
men wanted 10 get ont OF the land OF op'
preston, and the movement was checked
by refusing them steamboat trans portanon
Fora recent example OF the development OF
this disposition We refer the Dispatch to an
article from the New York Sun, which we
reproduce
What sort OF answer is that; "The
worst form Of the ill-treatment TO which
Colored people are subjected in the South
is not personal. but political" That Is
: confession that it Is the votes of the ne
gfocs. not their social status, which our
Cincinnati contemporary is concerned
about. Il j. a confession, too, that what
We said few weeks ago was literally true
namely. that the negroes would rather live
among the kind-hearied, appreciatiye
whites OF the south aS nOn-vOterS than
amor the scornful whites OF the North as
voter. In word, the southern whites
treat the pegro6s 20 much more kindly than
they are treated by the northern whites
that they would rather sacrifice their right
10 vote than exchange life in the southern
S:stts ior life in the northern states.
Mi. HALSTEAD exposes the weakness Of
his cause when be refers H. to an article
from the New York SIM, which tells Of
negro migration from SoutO Carolina to
Ark9nsa,. Five thousand Negroes that
ari'c'o avs, "Ntu. in body 10 Arkansas
moi long ago" Exlcrly. 70 Arkansls-a
southern state; mt To a northern state
Five thousand TO Arkansas and MT one
humid cd TO Ohio. Here i proof that me
sgro,S are able 10 migrate hy thous IN =
but absolutely refuse 10 migrate to
the North. Nr. HALSTEAD has proved
orF cs-e for Us. He ha, furnished all the
oyidcnte that wss Necessary to the estib-
fishing Of our point. To say, a. TIE arti-
Gle does, that the negroes leave south Caro-
lima, first Of all because they have "lost
their political rights" is to say that they
migrate to Arkansas, another southern
State. in order TO regain their rights.
Pray, why do not these thousands OF negroes
migrate to Ohio, Indiana, or Illinois. or
Pennsylvania: All of these States are
more accessible from South Carolina than
Il Arkansas. The reason i that the negroes
sre better treated in the South.
And it Is a good joke, or rather a re-
marksble fact, that Of all the States in the
Union, Arkansas, the land Of the bowie
knife and Of supposed or alleged fire-eaters
and kuklux, should be selected by the ne
groes a. their new and permanent home.
We submit the case upon the testimony
furnished by our adversary.